CHARLIE CHAPLIN CONTEST.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1322, 26 August 1915, Page 29

CHARLIE CHAPLIN CONTEST.

An unique item will be introduced into the programme at the Auckland Opera House on Thursday and two following nights in the form of a series of Charlie Chaplin competitions. The final takes place on Saturday, when the winner will be selected from the successful competitors of the. two previous evenings. The audience will be the judges. The conditions of the contest have been drawn up as follow: (1) To give the best and most consistent impersonation, in make-up, dress, and characteristics, of America’s famous photo-play comedian, Charlie Chaplin. (2) Each competitor will be allowed to use. up to two feeders or assistants. (This will enable competitors to play a scene from any one of Chaplin’s comedy films.) (3) A time limit is set at three minutes.

Piquant, versatile Dorothy Gard’ner, the life and soul of the Violet Dandies, is a Dunedmite, but has been for the past five and a-half years in Australia. Miss Gard’ner has had a big rally from her numerous old friends and admirers in New Zealand, and she. has been warmly complimented on the conspicuous success she has made in the world of entertainment.

Miss Violet Paget was specially engaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd\ for the important part of Miriam Leigh in “The Man Who Stayed at Home.” Miss Paget is said to be the highest salaried dramatic star ever engaged by the firm.

Mr. Sydney James, of the Royal Strollers, achieved fame in the early days of his career in England as a pantomime dame. He is the proprietor of two theatres in the English provinces, and he runs several companies similar to the Strollers in England. He has toured five through South Africa, with considerable success. The burlesques, which are a feature of the Strollers’ performances, are written by the brilliant en-

The overland tour of “The Man Who Stayed at Home” is proving the most successful ever enjoyed by a J. C. Williamson attraction. At Palm erston North it was witnessed by a large number of the territorials from the camp at Rangiotu. “The boys simply ‘ate’ it,” said Mr. Farrell.

lan Maclaren, the new leading man who is playing in the J. C. Williamson production of “Within the Lines,” the new spy play at the Criterion, Sydney, is a front-rank cricketer as well as an actor. He: has played against an Australian Eleven in England.

Madame Sarah Bernhardt, who a few months ago met with an accident while acting, and had her right leg amputated, made her reappearance at a matinee performance in aid of the French war funds. She recited a poem standing up, notwithstanding the loss of her limb.

Paul Burns, who is Abe Potash in “Potash and Perlmutter” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, has conceived, a violent fancy for Australia. “This is some place,” declared Mr. Burns, “and I intend to stay here for good. I have never been out of America before, except to Canada. Life here seems to me more easy than in New York. A man can sit down and have a quiet and easy time, with friendly and sociable people around him who try to make him feel at home.”

Considerable stir it is reported has been caused in London by. the reputed fusion of two of the greatest ibiograph film producing companies of Germany and Denmark. There is a prospect that German films, made in Denmark, may be the feature of the coming season in London, Paris, and Rome.

“ ‘Sinners,’ ” writes Channing Pollock, reviewing that play “is bad enough to be very profitable.”